Court jesters are headed for the mainland

Published: Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 4:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 4:34 p.m.

It is really remarkable how a group that over time gained the reputation as a traveling circus has been so incredibly stable.

Thirty-five years. That is how long the Total Tennis band of characters has been tied to Siesta Key.

Until now.

The crew, known for how serious they are about having fun on the tennis courts, are pulling up stakes and heading for the mainland. After all those years near the sand and water, the Siesta Key institution is taking its store-full of tennis attire and equipment to a new home.

"It's been a long gig," said Phil Perrella, who has served as ringmaster for the fun-loving family of tennis aficionados. For 35 years, the greatest show on Siesta has gone on nonstop.

For 15 years, home was at the site of the old Magic Moment restaurant. Then, when that restaurant, and accompanying tennis courts, made way for condominiums, Total Tennis moved to its current home on Avenida Madera, where it has served tennis fans for two decades.

Ironically, that space is going to be turned into a restaurant. Which means that Total Tennis, one of the largest tennis retail shops in the country, needed to find new digs.

After considering downsizing to a building near its current location that was about half the size, the partners found a place that not only suits their needs but could also be more accessible to their clientele.

"This place is going to open a whole lot of possibilities for us," Perrella said about the location on Bee Ridge Road between U.S. 41 Shade Avenue.

Total Tennis is moving into the Colonnade Shopping Plaza. They will take over a location that had been home for many years to Persnickety Cat, a store that dealt with a wide range of eclectic items. The plan is to have the nearly 2,000-square-foot shop ready for business by June 1.

Wood floors that creak, high ceilings, plenty of room.

"We are stoked for it," Perrella said. "This gives a chance to broaden our appeal to all humanity."

That's typical Perrella talk for his having a great time getting paid for what he loves — serving the tennis community while working with partners who have always been more like family than business associates.

Perrella, now 64, started on his career path by filling in at the pro shop when the Magic Moment was part of the old Siesta Racquet and Swim Club. Quickly the part-time position became a full-time love. And 15 hours a week became a full-time commitment for the self-described "tennis pro from hell."

Carolyn Lewis, who Perrella says is about "200 years old now," has been there practically from the start. She was the ambitious one, he says, driving the business to become bigger and better. Later, her son, Jeff Lewis, became a partner. Her sister is also among the family of employees who work at the shop.

Over time, they also taught at several courts throughout the area. It was a traveling show known as "Have Racket Will Travel." In recent years, the itinerant teachers have concentrated their efforts at the Jewish Federation facility's eight courts.

Total tennis was also known for its quirky local television commercials, many of them with Perrella ending with a tennis ball in his mouth.

Quirkiness came naturally. Perrella was the primary leader of the group of tennis players who would travel together to tournaments in the area when local events were huge back in the late 1970s and early '80s. They were known as much for their partying as their play. Boisterous almost to a double fault, the group made the entire tournament time fun — for most.

Perrella still has fun today. It's just going to be in a new place.

The 2012 River Strand Adult Singles Classic is being played this weekend at The River Strand Golf and Country Club.

Divisions in the USTA event include open, as well as ability flight levels for men and women.

<p>It is really remarkable how a group that over time gained the reputation as a traveling circus has been so incredibly stable.</p><p>Thirty-five years. That is how long the Total Tennis band of characters has been tied to Siesta Key.</p><p>Until now.</p><p>The crew, known for how serious they are about having fun on the tennis courts, are pulling up stakes and heading for the mainland. After all those years near the sand and water, the Siesta Key institution is taking its store-full of tennis attire and equipment to a new home.</p><p>"It's been a long gig," said Phil Perrella, who has served as ringmaster for the fun-loving family of tennis aficionados. For 35 years, the greatest show on Siesta has gone on nonstop.</p><p>For 15 years, home was at the site of the old Magic Moment restaurant. Then, when that restaurant, and accompanying tennis courts, made way for condominiums, Total Tennis moved to its current home on Avenida Madera, where it has served tennis fans for two decades.</p><p>Ironically, that space is going to be turned into a restaurant. Which means that Total Tennis, one of the largest tennis retail shops in the country, needed to find new digs.</p><p>After considering downsizing to a building near its current location that was about half the size, the partners found a place that not only suits their needs but could also be more accessible to their clientele.</p><p>"This place is going to open a whole lot of possibilities for us," Perrella said about the location on Bee Ridge Road between U.S. 41 Shade Avenue.</p><p>Total Tennis is moving into the Colonnade Shopping Plaza. They will take over a location that had been home for many years to Persnickety Cat, a store that dealt with a wide range of eclectic items. The plan is to have the nearly 2,000-square-foot shop ready for business by June 1.</p><p>Wood floors that creak, high ceilings, plenty of room.</p><p>"We are stoked for it," Perrella said. "This gives a chance to broaden our appeal to all humanity."</p><p>That's typical Perrella talk for his having a great time getting paid for what he loves — serving the tennis community while working with partners who have always been more like family than business associates.</p><p>Perrella, now 64, started on his career path by filling in at the pro shop when the Magic Moment was part of the old Siesta Racquet and Swim Club. Quickly the part-time position became a full-time love. And 15 hours a week became a full-time commitment for the self-described "tennis pro from hell."</p><p>Carolyn Lewis, who Perrella says is about "200 years old now," has been there practically from the start. She was the ambitious one, he says, driving the business to become bigger and better. Later, her son, Jeff Lewis, became a partner. Her sister is also among the family of employees who work at the shop.</p><p>Over time, they also taught at several courts throughout the area. It was a traveling show known as "Have Racket Will Travel." In recent years, the itinerant teachers have concentrated their efforts at the Jewish Federation facility's eight courts.</p><p>Total tennis was also known for its quirky local television commercials, many of them with Perrella ending with a tennis ball in his mouth.</p><p>Quirkiness came naturally. Perrella was the primary leader of the group of tennis players who would travel together to tournaments in the area when local events were huge back in the late 1970s and early '80s. They were known as much for their partying as their play. Boisterous almost to a double fault, the group made the entire tournament time fun — for most.</p><p>Perrella still has fun today. It's just going to be in a new place.</p><p>The 2012 River Strand Adult Singles Classic is being played this weekend at The River Strand Golf and Country Club.</p><p>Divisions in the USTA event include open, as well as ability flight levels for men and women.</p><p>Call (941) 932-8680 for more information.</p>